In Letter, Senator Murkowski Backed Planned Parenthood Funding, Against GOP Cuts. “Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has asked top Senate appropriators to continue providing funding for Planned Parenthood, making her the first GOP senator to publicly oppose funding cuts to the organization that House Republicans want to make. ‘I believe that Planned Parenthood provides vital services to those in need and disagree with their funding cuts contained in the bill,’ Murkowski wrote in a letter to Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and ranking member Thad Cochran.” [National Journal, 3/12/11]

Senator Susan Collins Supported Title X, Against House GOP Cuts To Program. Collins spokesman Kevin Kelley said, “Sen. Collins is a longtime supporter of the Title X family planning program, and she believes the House’s decision to completely eliminate the funding is unwise, The program has successfully reduced the number of unplanned pregnancies, therefore helping to reduce health care costs. Planned Parenthood receives Title X funding, which is defunded in the Republican spending bill. Planned Parenthood defunding was the subject of a separate amendment to the spending bill sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.).” [Politico, 3/11/11]

Senator Olympia Snowe Called It A “Step Too Far” To Defund Planned Parenthood. Snowe said, “While confronting our serious economic challenges and fiscal realities will require difficult decisions to reach more sustainable levels of government spending, the outright elimination of funding for Planned Parenthood and Title X is a step too far and would have a significant impact on access to the preventive services and screenings that have benefited millions of women nationwide.” [The Hill, 3/27/11]

Senator Mark Kirk Has Always Supported Planned Parenthood. According to theThe Hill newspaper Senator Mark Kirk “has always supported Planned Parenthood and family planning efforts,” when looking at which Senators would not support the Pence Amendment. [The Hill, 3/27/11]

· Congressman Bass Said Title X Protects Health Of Woman, Against GOP Cuts. “Bass recently went against the majority of his party with a vote to preserve funding for Title 10 programs, which include Planned Parenthood. Bass was one of seven House Republicans to vote that way, but was on the losing side. ‘Title 10 does a lot of important functions to protect the health of young women in our society and I didn’t think it was appropriate to cut that fund to zero,’ Bass said.” [Keene Sentinel, 2/26/11]

· Congressman Richard Hanna Called Cuts “Draconian,” Hopes Will be Restored. “You really have to hope that at the end of the day that this was part of the process, and that most of the draconian cuts will be restored as part of a compromise,” Hanna said. ‘I like National Public Radio. I don’t want to cut public television. I didn’t want to cut health care provided through Planned Parenthood.’” [The Post Standard, 2/20/2011]

· Congressman Dold Called Defunding Planned Parenthood “Shortsighted.” “Dold went so far as to publicly voice his opposition to the Pence amendment on the House floor during last month’s debate, becoming the only one of the Republican dissidents to do so. He said blocking funding for Planned Parenthood would be ‘shortsighted and would negatively impact the lives of women who depend on these health care services.’” [Roll Call, 3/2/11]

· Congresswoman Bono Mack Said Cutting Funding For Planned Parenthood Is A Big Mistake. Bono Mack said, “The Pence Amendment cuts off federal funding to Planned Parenthood for all services-not just abortions. I believe that is a big mistake and represents a threat to the health of tens of thousands of American women. Breast cancer screenings, pelvic exams, HPV tests and scores of other vitally important health care services-services that save lives-would be unfairly impacted.” [The Daily Best, 3/12/11]